Wes Montgomery – The Most Amazing Jazz Music Guitar Personality Ever! – Part 1
As opposed to most of the world’s finest jazz guitarists, past or present, John Leslie ‘Wes’ Montgomery started to perform on the guitar comparatively late in life. At the age of 19, influenced by the records of Charlie Christian, he began to practice the guitar.
Wes Montgomery soon developed an incredible technique of single notes, octaves and chords that was so facile that a lot of guitarists, before his rise on the scene, may have imagined it to have been technically impossible. Montgomery utilized his thumb, rather than a pick, on his right hand and so created a special and instantly recognizable sound. This uncommon technique came about as a means for Montgomery to keep the volume of his guitar down while practicing so as not to disturb his neighbors at home.
Soon after playing the guitar for only six months Wes Montgomery was hired by a local group to perform absolutely nothing else but Charlie Christian’s solos note for note. Although not able to read music, Montgomery was fortunate to possess a great ear for music and this helped him make quick progress. Together with his brothers, Monk on bass and Buddy on piano, he became an important facet of the Indianapolis jazz scene. Right up until 1959 Montgomery was nearly unknown outside of Indianapolis, even though he had invested two years on the road with Lionel Hampton’s Band from 1948 – 1950.
During his time with “The Lionel Hampton Band” he was given the nickname of ‘Rev’ Montgomery simply because he was a teetotaller. Montgomery was a devoted family man. Having seven kids, the road life that was the lot of most jazz musicians did not appeal to him. Yet his love for playing jazz provided him a long and arduous working day. In the course of the day he labored in a local radio factory. During the evenings he performed in the close by Turf Bar and afterwards moved on to play more jazz in one more club, the Missile Room, into the early hours of the morning.
A chance visit to the Missile Room by jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderly, who was on an one night gig to Indianapolis, finally led to international acknowledgement of Wes Montgomery’s unique talent. Adderley was so moved by Montgomery’s incredible guitar playing that he immediately telephoned Orrin Keepnews, president of Riverside, the prosperous jazz recording company. He urged him to sign Montgomery. Keepnews was a bit skeptical of Adderly’s adulation but coincidentally had just seen an article on Wes Montgomery by Gunther Schuller in an issue of the magaine “The Jazz Review”.
Peabody Conservatory trained guitarist Steven Herron helps guitar players become better guitarists. His company ChordMelody.com features an enormous selection of jazz guitar tabs as well as instructional material by Wes Montgomery himself. Find out more and claim Steven’s popular free monthly guitar lesson e-course available at: =>
Wes Montgomery guitar tabs
Processing your request, Please wait....
